Richard Carapaz targets the podium on Stage 14 of the Vuelta a España

Richard Carapaz returns to La Pandera with the Vuelta a España podium in sight and a successful memory to draw on. The Ecuadorian, fourth in the general classification, faces a mountain stage that could reshape his ambitions on Saturday, September 5.

Stage 14 runs 154.5 kilometers from Jaén to Sierra de la Pandera. Its final climb covers 11.9 kilometers at an average gradient of 7.2%, with ramps reaching 17%. Before that, riders must cross the second-category Puerto de los Villares and Puerto de Locubín, where a time bonus will be available at the summit.

Carapaz began the day 3 minutes 53 seconds behind race leader Enric Mas and 1:47 behind Austria’s Felix Gall in third place. With about 75 kilometers remaining, he was still riding in the group of favorites. The loss of Gregor Mühlberger, who abandoned after a crash early in Stage 13, leaves Gall without one of his main allies before the decisive mountain days.

Carapaz finished Stage 13 in 43rd place, three minutes behind winner Wout van Aert, alongside the leading contenders. Stages 14 and 15 represent important opportunities for him to close the gap to the podium.

La Pandera has already witnessed one of Carapaz’s strongest Vuelta performances. In 2022, he joined the breakaway and attacked with 3.5 kilometers remaining, reaching the summit alone after 160.3 kilometers. He finished in 4:09:27, eight seconds ahead of Miguel Ángel López and Primož Roglič. That victory was his second in the 2022 race, in which he also won Stages 12 and 20, claimed the mountains classification, and finished 13th overall.